USDA Crop Production

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service is suspending a number of statistical surveys and reports for the remainder of the fiscal year resulting from reduced funding. Suspended commodity programs impacting the July Crop Production report are almonds, apricots, Austrian winter peas, dry edible peas, and lentils. Check the NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov for any future updates to these programs.

Winter Wheat Production Up 2 Percent from June Orange Production Down Slightly from June

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the June 1 forecast but down 6 percent from 2012. Based on July 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 47.8 bushels per acre, up 1.7 bushels from last month and up 0.6 bushel from last year. If realized, this will equal the United States record high yield established in 1999. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 32.3 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 28, 2013 but down 7 percent from last year.

Hard Red Winter production, at 793 million bushels, is up 1 percent from last month. Soft Red Winter, at 539 million bushels, is up 6 percent from June. White Winter, at 211 million bushels, is down 3 percent from last month. Of the White Winter production, 11.9 million bushels are Hard White and 200 million bushels are Soft White.

Durum wheat production is forecast at 57.5 million bushels, down 30 percent from 2012. The United States yield is forecast at 38.3 bushels per acre, down 0.7 bushel from last year. Expected area to be harvested for grain totals 1.50 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released June 28, 2013 but down 29 percent from last year.

Other spring wheat production is forecast at 513 million bushels, down 5 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is expected to total 12.0 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released June 28, 2013 but down 1 percent from last year. The United States yield is forecast at 42.9 bushels per acre, 2.1 bushels below 2012. Of the total production, 476 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, down 6 percent from last year.

The United States all orange forecast for the 2012-2013 season is 8.38 million tons, down slightly from the previous forecast and down 7 percent from the 2011-2012 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 133 million boxes (6.00 million tons), is down slightly from the June forecast and down 9 percent from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 67.1 million boxes (3.02 million tons), up slightly from the June forecast but down 10 percent from last season. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 66.3 million boxes (2.98 million tons), is down 1 percent from the June forecast and down 9 percent from last season's final utilization. Harvest of Valencia oranges in Florida was virtually complete.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield for the 2012-2013 season is final at 1.59 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from the June forecast but down 2 percent from last season's final yield of 1.63 gallons per box. The early-midseason portion is final at 1.51 gallons per box, down 1 percent from last season's final yield of 1.53 gallons per box. The Valencia portion is final at 1.69 gallons per box, 3 percent lower than last year's final yield of 1.75 gallons per box. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.

Source: USDA